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Homeland writer-producer Henry Bromell dies

HENRY Bromell, writer-producer of many TV hits including Homeland, has died of a heart of attack.

The television veteran had been part of the Emmy-winning drama’s six-member writing staff since its first season and also served as executive producer.

A statement released by Showtime said: “We are deeply saddened at the loss of our dear friend Henry Bromell, who has been a part of the Showtime family for over a decade.

“Henry was an immensely talented and prolific writer, director and showrunner, and his work on Brotherhood and Homeland was nothing short of brilliant.

“His passion, warmth, humor and generosity will be greatly missed. Our hearts and thoughts go out to his wife and family.”

Born on September 19, 1947, Bromell graduated from Amherst College in 1970 and immediately displayed his flair for writing by winning the Houghton Mifflin Literary Award for his first novel, The Slightest Distance.

He later advanced to television and found big success when he joined the crew of NBC police drama Homicide: Life on the Street in 1994, serving as a writer and co-executive producer for the show’s third season.

He went on to contribute to writing seven episodes for the season and was promoted to executive producer for the fourth season, during which time he penned a further 17 episodes.

In total, he contributed to a total of 26 episodes as a writer over three seasons with the series before moving on to further success with shows like Chicago Hope, Northern Exposure, Brotherhood, Carnivàle and Rubicon.

But even he wasn’t prepared for the success of what was to prove his final project Homeland, which included of awards and even Presidential acknowledgement.

The Hollywood Reporter quotes him as saying during a set visit: “When we were writing the first season, we had no idea this would hit the zeitgeist. We were trying to write a really good television show. The last time this happened to me was on Northern Exposure.

“First it was the reviews, and then it was President Obama is watching. It’s cool, but then it’s, ‘Oh god, now we’re going to let everyone down!”

Among the episodes Bromell had written for the series were the acclaimed Q&A, the fifth episode of the second season in which Damian Lewis’s Brody is interrogated by Rupert Friend, Mandy Patinkin and Claire Danes and finally breaks.

A further statement by Twentieth Century Fox TV and Fox 21 said of Bromell: “We were lucky to work with Henry on and off for the past 18 years. He was a supremely talented writer and as kind and warm a person as you could ever meet. He will be deeply missed at the studio and on Homeland. Our hearts and prayers go out to his wife and children.”